Athabasca Glacier

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Athabasca Glacier

Specialized Brewster Coach. As of 2005 this was the largest fleet of these snow coaches, with only two other coaches operated in Antarctica

The Athabasca Glacier is one of the six principal toes of the Columbia Icefield, located in the Canadian Rockies. Due to the warming climate, the glacier has receded more than 1.5 km in the past 125 years and lost over half of its volume. The glacier moves down from the icefield at a rate of several centimetres per day. Due to its close proximity to the Icefields Parkway, between the Alberta towns of Banff and Jasper, and rather easy accessibility, it is the most visited glacier in North America. The leading edge of the glacier is within easy walking distance; however, travel onto the glacier is not recommended unless properly equipped. Hidden crevasses have led to the deaths of unprepared tourists.

A substantial lodge, closed during the winter, stands across from the glacier and is used as a base for ticket sales and van transport to the bottom of the glacier snowfield. From here, tourists board buses especially designed for transport over steep grades and snow or ice and are taken part way up the glacier.